Wireless Home Network

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Bloodstein

Senior member
Nov 8, 2002
343
0
0
I'm planning on getting a laptop soon (wif wireless PCMCIA card), so I thought, why not go wireless in my home.

I've got 2 desktop computers currently hooked up on fast ethernet. My new laptop would be a third computer. I'm also on 56K dialup :(

I need some recommendations on the hardware I need to purchase....this is a real grey area. When I searched the net for info, all the advices seemed to be geared for the corporate environment.

I believe i need a pci card for each desktop PC (my laptop would have a wireless card). Am I right to say, these would be the only difference between wireless and the standard fast ethernet? I also heard stuff 'bout wireless access ppoints. I've checked prices on access points....WHEW! Not for my small home network!

I don't really mind if both the desktops are hooked on fast ethernet (although i'd be nice to have them wireless). So this is another thing for me to consider....go 100% wireless or part wireless. It all comes down to cost...

I also plan on going adsl in the future. so i might get an adsl router. I need whatever i buy to be able to work wif the adsl router.

What sorta wireless cards would you recommend to an average user who wants a lil' mobility round the house. Cost is really a factor for me (not so big as to abandon the idea or wireless though :p). Another factor weighing on me is network reliability. I dun wanna have 800MB downloads cancelled on 799 cuz there was accidentally "no signal" or something like that. Oh and of course....i'm thinking of going wif 802.11b. I dun wanna wait till 802.11g becomes standard....cuz it doesn't really bother me. 802.11g is backward compatible wif b.

And jus in case anyone brings this up.....security ain't a problem (as far as ppl tapping into my signals go) :p. PPl in my neighbourhood are nice...
 
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Angrymarshmello

Lifer
Apr 5, 2000
13,256
1
0
Well you'd need a wireless PCI card for each (or a USB adapter). If you're computer is in a closed off area or reception may be a problem, the USB adapter is the way to go. (That's what I did instead of the PCI wireless card) Brand wise - Netgear, Linksys, Microsoft, DLink are all pretty good from what I hear. (I'm using a Siemens Speedstream USB adapter connected to a MS Wireless Base Station)

And IIRC, you can't have a wireless network without an access point or a router of some sort. (I might be wrong but I don't think you can do a wireless card to wireless card network) You'll need a router (since you're going to get ADSL you might as well get the router now) The router is usually slightly cheaper in price than an access point (usually if you already have a wired router you get an access point instead of a wireless router) - around $50-80 depending on brand.

edit: nm, you can if you set the two wireless cards to ad-hoc
 
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